Popular Weight Loss Drug, Alli, Recalled Due To Tampering

Alli, a popular weight loss drug, has been voluntarily recalled by producer GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, in the United States and Puerto Rico, due to tampering concerns. Alli weight loss capsules are a distinctive color of turquoise blue. According to The Detroit News, consumers reported purchasing bottles that contained pills of various shapes and colors. Some of the bottles had missing labels, dysfunctional safety seals, and mismatching expiration dates between the package and the bottle. Reports of this type have been received from the states of Alabama, Florida, New York, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and North Carolina. The weight loss pills are manufactured in various parts of the United States, as well as in Puerto Rico. The exact source of the tampering is yet to be discovered.

Colin Mackenzie, President of GlaxoSmithKline’s Consumer Healthcare North America, assures us they are doing everything possible to ascertain exactly what happened and make sure the problem with the weight loss product is fixed. “Safety is our first priority and we are asking retailers and pharmacies to remove all Alli from their shelves immediately,” says Mackenzie. “We are committed to finding out what happened and to doing everything possible to prevent future issues with Alli. We regret any inconvenience caused by this retailer recall.

The company is working closely with the Food and Drug Administration to investigate the issue. Mackenzie says they have posted a Consumer Alert on their website, and “issued a news release with information and photographs to help consumers determine if their Alli is authentic.”

Alli is an FDA approved over-the-counter weight loss drug that is a form of the prescription weight loss product, Xenical. According to the Alli website, this weight loss pill works by blocking 25 percent of the fat you eat from being absorbed. This fat that hasn’t been absorbed passes through the digestive tract. As a result, bowel changes may occur, especially within the first few weeks of use. The side effects are most likely to happen after taking one these weight loss pills and eating a meal containing more than 15 grams of fat.

If you already have an Alli weight loss container at home, there are a few things you can check to be sure your product is safe. The pills should be turquoise in color, with a dark blue band, imprinted with the text “60 Orlistat”. The bottle should contain a safety seal printed with the words “sealed for your protection”. Expiration dates appearing on the bottle and the carton should match. If you find that you have used these weight loss pills from a suspicious container, contact GSK promptly at 800-671-2554 to speak with a representative.